See, she pauses to press closer to his side, gaze on his face, and whisper, "We did well to have hope and faith!" The husband's faith had not been so unshaken as his Mary's, and a slight blush passed over his cheek as he thought of his concession to Sir Miles's wishes, and his overtures to Lucretia Clavering.

Still, that fault had been fairly acknowledged to his wife, and she felt, the moment she had spoken, that she had committed an indiscretion; nevertheless, with an arch touch of womanly malice she added softly,-- "And Miss Clavering, you persist in saying, was not really handsome ?" "My love," replied the husband, gravely, "you would oblige me by not recalling the very painful recollections connected with that name.

Let it never be mentioned in this house." Lady Mary bowed her graceful head in submission; she understood Charles's feelings.

For though he had not shown her Sir Miles's letter and its enclosure, he had communicated enough to account for the unexpected heritage, and to lessen his wife's compassion for the disappointed heiress.

Nevertheless, she comprehended that her husband felt an uneasy twinge at the idea that he was compelled to act hardly to the one whose hopes he had supplanted.